In a move to stop harmful practices against women and the girl-child, Wife of the Rivers State Governor, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike has called on key stakeholders to create a joint platform to address the challenge.

Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike advocated a collaboration between the Federation of International Lawyers (FIDA), the State Ministry of Women Affairs and the Rivers State House of Assembly as a team to work towards eliminating the said harmful practices.She spoke on Tuesday at her office in the Government House, Port Harcourt when she received a high powered delegation of the British Council led by the Director of Society, Mr. Mohammed Ahmed.

She said FIDA and the State Ministry of Women Affairs will come up with a convention that will sponsor bills to the Rivers State House of Assembly which will give the needed impetus to eliminate traditional harmful practices against women and violence against the girl child.

She said: "We are going to work with FIDA and the Ministry of Women Affairs to set up a convention for the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. We shall see what laws we can bring out of the convention and sponsor bills to the Rivers State House of Assembly, so that we can have that needed impetus to eliminate traditional harmful practices to women and violence against the girl child".

She called on the British Council to support her office to lead the campaign against harmful traditional practices against women and the girl-child. The First Lady added that the campaigns will be taken to the rural areas, churches and markets, with the aim of creating awareness amongst the people on the dangers of traditional harmful practices and violence against the girl child. The Governor's wife appealed to the State Chief Judge, Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra, judicial officers, Lawyers and other stakeholders to support the struggle to end harmful practices against women.

She added: "I call on the British Council to support My Lord the Chief Judge of Rivers State in her bid to transform the State Judiciary in terms of the training of Judges, Magistrates and Lawyers. There is a need for the reorientation of all of us. I appeal to the British Council to look into the possibility of reopening the Visa office in Port Harcourt ."

The wife of the Rivers State Governor, Justice Eberechi Suzette Nyesom-Wike further appealed to the British Council to consider and give Rivers women a special concession in the scholarship programmes.

Earlier, the Director Society of the British Council, Ahmed Muhammed said the British Council was in the State as part of its obligation to help in improving the educational system of Nigeria.He said the council is particularly interested in equipping young boys and girls with relevant skills and developing the creative economy of the state.